My speaking notes for the Arkansas RRCA awards: 2014 Arkansas RRCA awards Welcome everyone to the 2014 Arkansas RRCA awards. I am David Meroney, the Road Runners Club of America State Representative for Arkansas. For just a few moments, I would like to address all the people here who are attending this ceremony for the first time. Im very glad you are here and hope you enjoy it. This ceremony is to present awards that we, the running community nominate and then vote. The winners are kept a secret until the presentations which will begin shortly. I actually put on two awards ceremonies each year: this one which follows the Spa 10K and the Grand Prix awards which follows the River Trail 15K which will be February 7, time and location to be determined. This year Im very pleased to have special guest from the RRCA. Kelly Richards is an At-large Director for the Road Runners Club of America. Shes a past 5-term president of Lake Grapevine Runners and Walkers and a past State Rep of the Year. Shes from Minnesota but resides in Grapevine, Texas. K2 as everyone calls her has goals to complete a marathon in all 50 states and DC as well as all of World Major Marathons. K2 has been a big supporter and help to the Arkansas running community and shes my friend. Oh, and shes single and looking…she wanted me to say that. Please welcome, K2. Thank you, K2. Today we have quite an accomplishment to acknowledge. Joe Milligan will soon complete his 10th straight Grand Prix season of being an Iron Runner. That is the feat of running all 20 Grand Prix races in a season. For over 200 consecutive races, Joe made to the start line and competed. When he hit 100 races we created a special award called the Milligan. For 200 Joe asked that we not do anything special. But I want to ask everyone to congratulate Joe on this and for showing us all what determination and resilience looks like. I would also like to recognize the people who have made all this possible. Their hard work laid the foundation of the current Arkansas RRCA. Of course Im talking about the previous State Reps. Please stand when I call your name. In order, they are David Samuel, Don Still, Bill Torrey, Kim Howard, and Andrea Sieczkowski. Thank you for all you have done and continue to do. Also, I would like to thank Brian Sieczkowski who continues to be a value asset and friend to the Arkansas running community. This year, Brian turned over all the Grand Prix scoring and website maintenance to me. Its been quite the learning process for me and Brian has been there to bail me out a few times. Thank you, Brian. Its kind of a funny thing, this running that we do. Its an individual thing. Only our legs and feet can propel ourselves. If you dont move yourself down the road, no one is going to do it for you. Its almost solitary. But, you know all too well this isnt a solo activity. We love this thing and we share it. We get together to run regular routes or races. We get up at crazy early hours, drive long distances, hang out together, and become friends. We compete and then cheer each other on. We become family. We celebrate with each other during the good times. And we hold each other tight during the bad times. My grandmother told me a few times that dying is a part of life. I know she told me that to help prepare me for when she would be gone and when others are gone. Even when we are prepared its not easy and its even worse when we arent prepared. The Arkansas running community has really suffered some losses these last few months. There are probably others that are unknown to me and I dont want to set a precedent here but I would like to take a moment to acknowledge these losses. As best I know in chronological order, I will call out the names of those we have lost and ask that those who are representing them to stand. Please hold your applause or words of support until all have been announced. Josh Holt - represented by his wife Kellie and his parents Kim and James Holt Beverly Carter - represented by her son Carl Carter Bob Hayes - represented by his wife Karen Hayes Larry Mabry - not represented by family but I would ask people that knew Larry well to please stand Jacob Wells - represented by his soulmate and sweetheart Jaynie Cannon Despite the loss and grief that we feel, I would like for us now to focus instead on the celebration that is an awards ceremony. Today, we will present 16 awards. Also, there will be 19 door prizes throughout the ceremony. Well draw tickets and if your number is called, come up and pick out an item. The door prizes are provided by Grand Prix sponsor Go! Running. Also, Id like to acknowledge the other two sponsors of the Grand Prix: Image One and Ortho Arkansas. Door prizes 1 and 2 Ultra awards presented by Bob Marston Female Ultra Runner of the Year Tammy Walther Male Ultra Runner of the Year Thomas Chapin Female Masters Ultra Runner of the Year Stacey Shaver-Matson Male Masters Ultra Runner of the Year George Peterka Door prizes 3 and 4 Aside from the Ultra awards, the Arkansas RRCA awards are determined by nominations and voting. This year 18 individuals submitted nominations to me. The slate of candidates was excellent and everyone was very deserving of the awards. 237 people submitted ballots; each ballot had 12 categories. In total, there were 1,571 votes cast and 566 categories left blank. Every vote counts as there was one category where the winner was determined by one vote. I consider myself to be the tie-breaker -- fortunately I have not had to break any ties yet in the voting. Masters Female Runner of the Year Tammy Walther Presented by Tina Ho Door prizes 5 and 6 Male Runner of the Year Mark Ferguson Presented by Brian Sieczkowski Door prizes 7 and 8 Female Runner of the Year Leah Thorvilson Presented by Carl Carter Door prizes 9 and 10 Masters Male Runner of the Year Ron Mitchell Presented by Rodney Paine Door prizes 11 and 12 Youth Male Runner of the Year Gideon Drake Presented by David Hochstedler Door prize 13 Youth Female Runner of the Year Caroline Wagner Presented by Brian Wagner Door prize 14 Most Improved Male Runner of the Year Ron Mitchell Presented by Bruce Oakley Door prize 15 Most Improved Female Runner of the Year Mindy Simonson Presented by Melissa Thompson Door prize 16 Normally the winners of these awards are kept secret with only me and the presenters knowing. But this year I decided it was important to share the winner of the Race Director of the Year and Volunteer of the Year awards. The voting closed on the day of the Midsouth Marathon but Jacob had all the votes he needed long before that day. I tallied the votes, determined that Jacob had won and relayed that to Jaynie who told Jacob. Bill Torrey Race Director of the Year Jacob Wells - 3 Bridges Marathon Presented by Kim Howard Al Becken Volunteer of the Year Jacob Wells Presented by Bill Torrey Door prize 17 Outstanding Club President Chris Hall - Saline County Striders Presented by Julie Kerr Door prize 18 Buzz Wilson Arkansas Spirit Award Susy Phillips Sturgeon Presented by Mindy Simonson Last year, we presented the last Buzz Wilson Arkansas Spirit Award. This year, we present the first Jacob Wells Arkansas Spirit award. Club updates ARK - Patti or Brice AURA - George HLRC - Monica LRRC - Bill CCC - Annette CRC - Wanda SCS - Chris SPA - Debbie BGR - Brenda Muckas - Ethan RVR - Tom WAR - Don WRRC - Bruce Average Joes - written report from David Melonvine - Kim PBRC - Cymber Shirt of the Year Door prize 19 -
Posted on: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 04:34:23 +0000
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